Biofunctionalized hydrogel composed of genipin-crosslinked gelatin/hyaluronic acid incorporated with lyophilized platelet-rich fibrin for segmental bone defect repair.

Segmental bone defects can arise from trauma, infection, metabolic bone disorders, or tumor removal. Hydrogels have gained attention in the field of bone regeneration due to their unique hydrophilic properties and the ability to customize their physical and chemical characteristics to serve as scaffolds and carriers for growth factors. However, the limited mechanical strength of hydrogels and the rapid release of active substances have hindered their clinical utility and therapeutic effectiveness. With ongoing advancements in material science, the development of injectable and biofunctionalized hydrogels holds great promise for addressing the challenges associated with segmental bone defects. In this study, we incorporated lyophilized platelet-rich fibrin (LPRF), which contains a multitude of growth factors, into a genipin-crosslinked gelatin/hyaluronic acid (GLT/HA-0.5 % GP) hydrogel to create an injectable and biofunctionalized composite material. Our findings demonstrate that this biofunctionalized hydrogel possesses optimal attributes for bone tissue engineering. Furthermore, results obtained from rabbit model with segmental tibial bone defects, indicate that the treatment with this biofunctionalized hydrogel resulted in increased new bone formation, as confirmed by imaging and histological analysis. From a translational perspective, this biofunctionalized hydrogel provides innovative and bioinspired capabilities that have the potential to enhance bone repair and regeneration in future clinical applications.

Application of pervious concrete pavement in the "breathe in-breathe out" design for sponge cities in China.

Sponge city construction is an ideal approach to mitigate the degradation of urban water environments. Among road materials, permeable concrete pavement stands out due to its unique structure that allows rainwater runoff to flow through its pores. This paper analyzes the current application status and the prospect of different permeable pavement designs in China's sponge cities, aiming to offer valuable insights for urban planning and construction. Statistical analysis summarizes the spatial-temporal distribution patterns of urban flooding disasters in China and their causes. By comparing the characteristics and advantages of pervious concrete pavement with traditional concrete pavement, the potential of permeable concrete pavement in sponge city construction is summarized through case studies. The findings highlight that by adjusting the pore size, permeable concrete pavement can collect rainwater while filtering impurities, thereby purifying surface runoff. The range of the pervious coefficient should ideally fall within the range of 4~8 mm/s. In addition, the pavement's large contact area with the air and internal water evaporation contributes to its self-regulating capability, reducing the occurrence of extreme temperatures. Related experiments have shown that from 8 am to 12 pm, pervious concrete pavement can reduce the temperature by approximately 1 °C compared to conventional concrete. From 12 pm to 8 pm, this temperature difference increases to approximately 3 °C. To meet the needs of environmental protection and resource utilization, permeable concrete pavement can serve as an ideal tool to achieve green and low-carbon development.

Merging Metabolic Modeling and Imaging for Screening Therapeutic Targets in Colorectal Cancer.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) play a key role in metabolic reprogramming and are well-established contributors to drug resistance in colorectal cancer (CRC). To exploit this metabolic crosstalk, we integrated a systems biology approach that identified key metabolic targets in a data-driven method and validated them experimentally. This process involved high-throughput computational screening to investigate the effects of enzyme perturbations predicted by a computational model of CRC metabolism to understand system-wide effects efficiently. Our results highlighted hexokinase (HK) as one of the crucial targets, which subsequently became our focus for experimental validation using patient-derived tumor organoids (PDTOs). Through metabolic imaging and viability assays, we found that PDTOs cultured in CAF conditioned media exhibited increased sensitivity to HK inhibition. Our approach emphasizes the critical role of integrating computational and experimental techniques in exploring and exploiting CRC-CAF crosstalk.

Compact and cost-effective laser-powered speckle contrast optical spectroscopy fiber-free device for measuring cerebral blood flow.

Significance: In the realm of cerebrovascular monitoring, primary metrics typically include blood pressure, which influences cerebral blood flow (CBF) and is contingent upon vessel radius. Measuring CBF noninvasively poses a persistent challenge, primarily attributed to the difficulty of accessing and obtaining signal from the brain. Aim: Our study aims to introduce a compact speckle contrast optical spectroscopy device for noninvasive CBF measurements at long source-to-detector distances, offering cost-effectiveness, and scalability while tracking blood flow (BF) with remarkable sensitivity and temporal resolution. Approach: The wearable sensor module consists solely of a laser diode and a board camera. It can be easily placed on a subject's head to measure BF at a sampling rate of 80 Hz. Results: Compared to the single-fiber-based version, the proposed device achieved a signal gain of about 70 times, showed superior stability, reproducibility, and signal-to-noise ratio for measuring BF at long source-to-detector distances. The device can be distributed in multiple configurations around the head. Conclusions: Given its cost-effectiveness, scalability, and simplicity, this laser-centric tool offers significant potential in advancing noninvasive cerebral monitoring technologies.

Discovery of a novel BTK inhibitor S-016 and identification of a new strategy for the treatment of lymphomas including BTK inhibitor-resistant lymphomas.

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) has emerged as a therapeutic target for B-cell malignancies, which is substantiated by the efficacy of various irreversible or reversible BTK inhibitors. However, on-target BTK mutations facilitating evasion from BTK inhibition lead to resistance that limits the therapeutic efficacy of BTK inhibitors. In this study we employed structure-based drug design strategies based on established BTK inhibitors and yielded a series of BTK targeting compounds. Among them, compound S-016 bearing a unique tricyclic structure exhibited potent BTK kinase inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 0.5 nM, comparable to a commercially available BTK inhibitor ibrutinib (IC50 = 0.4 nM). S-016, as a novel irreversible BTK inhibitor, displayed superior kinase selectivity compared to ibrutinib and significant therapeutic effects against B-cell lymphoma both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we generated BTK inhibitor-resistant lymphoma cells harboring BTK C481F or A428D to explore strategies for overcoming resistance. Co-culture of these DLBCL cells with M0 macrophages led to the polarization of M0 macrophages toward the M2 phenotype, a process known to support tumor progression. Intriguingly, we demonstrated that SYHA1813, a compound targeting both VEGFR and CSF1R, effectively reshaped the tumor microenvironment (TME) and significantly overcame the acquired resistance to BTK inhibitors in both BTK-mutated and wild-type BTK DLBCL models by inhibiting angiogenesis and modulating macrophage polarization. Overall, this study not only promotes the development of new BTK inhibitors but also offers innovative treatment strategies for B-cell lymphomas, including those with BTK mutations.

Hallmarks of cancer resistance.

This review explores the hallmarks of cancer resistance, including drug efflux mediated by ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, metabolic reprogramming characterized by the Warburg effect, and the dynamic interplay between cancer cells and mitochondria. The role of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in treatment resistance and the regulatory influence of non-coding RNAs, such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), microRNAs (miRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), are studied. The chapter emphasizes future directions, encompassing advancements in immunotherapy, strategies to counter adaptive resistance, integration of artificial intelligence for predictive modeling, and the identification of biomarkers for personalized treatment. The comprehensive exploration of these hallmarks provides a foundation for innovative therapeutic approaches, aiming to navigate the complex landscape of cancer resistance and enhance patient outcomes.

Clinical characteristics and risk factors in patients with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection complicated with cardiovascular diseases.

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics and risk factors of patients with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection complicated with cardiovascular diseases. Methods: A retrospective analysis of general clinical data was conducted on patients with SARS-CoV-2 omicron infection complicated with hypertension, coronary heart disease, and heart failure admitted to one hospital in Guangdong Province from December 1, 2022, to February 28, 2023. Clinical symptoms, laboratory tests, imaging examinations, treatment, and clinical outcomes were collected. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the risk factors for mortality in patients with SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infection complicated with cardiovascular diseases. ROC curves were drawn to evaluate the predictive value of CRP, D-dimer, and CK-MB in predicting the risk of death. Results: A total of 364 confirmed cases were included, divided into the asymptomatic group, mild to moderate group, and severe to critically ill group based on the symptoms of COVID-19. There were 216 males (59.34%) and 148 females (40.66%), with a median age of 75 years. The differences between the three groups in terms of sex and age were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The top three underlying diseases were hypertension (288 cases, 79.12%), coronary heart disease (100 cases, 27.47%), and diabetes (84 cases, 23.08%). The differences in unvaccinated and triple-vaccinated patients among the three groups were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The common respiratory symptoms were cough in 237 cases (65.11%) and sputum production in 199 cases (54.67%). In terms of laboratory tests, there were statistically significant differences in neutrophils, lymphocytes, red blood cells, C-reactive protein, D-dimer, aspartate aminotransferase, and creatinine among the three groups (p < 0.05). In imaging examinations, there were statistically significant differences among the three groups in terms of unilateral pulmonary inflammation, bilateral pulmonary inflammation, and bilateral pleural effusion (p < 0.05). There were statistically significant differences among the three groups in terms of antibiotic treatment, steroid treatment, oxygen therapy, nasal cannula oxygen inhalation therapy, non-invasive ventilation, and tracheal intubation ventilation (p < 0.05). Regarding clinical outcomes, there were statistically significant differences among the three groups in terms of mortality (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that CRP (OR = 1.012, 95% CI = 1.004-1.019) and D-dimer (OR = 1.117, 95% CI = 1.021-1.224) were independent risk factors for patient mortality. The predictive value of CRP, D-dimer, and CK-MB for the risk of death was assessed. D-dimer had the highest sensitivity (95.8%) in predicting patient mortality risk, while CRP had the highest specificity (84.4%). Conclusion: For patients with COVID-19 and concomitant cardiovascular diseases without contraindications, early administration of COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots can effectively reduce the mortality rate of severe cases. Monitoring biomarkers such as CRP, D-dimer, and CK-MB and promptly providing appropriate care can help mitigate the risk of mortality in patients.

Gp85 protein encapsulated by alginate-chitosan composite microspheres induced strong immunogenicity against avian leukosis virus in chicken.

Introduction: Avian leukosis, a viral disease affecting birds such as chickens, presents significant challenges in poultry farming due to tumor formation, decreased egg production, and increased mortality. Despite the absence of a commercial vaccine, avian leukosis virus (ALV) infections have been extensively documented, resulting in substantial economic losses in the poultry industry. This study aimed to develop alginate-chitosan composite microspheres loaded with ALV-J Gp85 protein (referred to as aCHP-gp85) as a potential vaccine candidate. Methods: Sodium alginate and chitosan were utilized as encapsulating materials, with the ALV-J Gp85 protein serving as the active ingredient. The study involved 45 specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens to evaluate the immunological effectiveness of aCHP-gp85 compared to a traditional Freund adjuvant-gp85 vaccine (Freund-gp85). Two rounds of vaccination were administered, and antibody levels, mRNA expression of immune markers, splenic lymphocyte proliferation, and immune response were assessed. An animal challenge experiment was conducted to evaluate the vaccine's efficacy in reducing ALV-J virus presence and improving clinical conditions. Results: The results demonstrated that aCHP-gp85 induced a significant and sustained increase in antibody levels compared to Freund-gp85, with the elevated response lasting for 84 days. Furthermore, aCHP-gp85 significantly upregulated mRNA expression levels of key immune markers, notably TNF-α and IFN-γ. The application of ALV-J Gp85 protein within the aCHP-gp85 group led to a significant increase in splenic lymphocyte proliferation and immune response. In the animal challenge experiment, aCHP-gp85 effectively reduced ALV-J virus presence and improved clinical conditions compared to other groups, with no significant pathological changes observed. Discussion: The findings suggest that aCHP-gp85 elicits a strong and prolonged immune response compared to Freund-gp85, indicating its potential as an innovative ALV-J vaccine candidate. These results provide valuable insights for addressing avian leukosis in the poultry industry, both academically and practically.

Uropathogens and clinical manifestations of pyuria-negative urinary tract infections in young infants: A single center cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Urine leukocyte count under microscopy is one of the most frequently used routine screening tests for urinary tract infection (UTI). Nevertheless, it is observed that pyuria is lacking in 10-25% of children with UTI. This study aims to determine the factors related to pyuria-negative UTI in young infants aged under four months old. METHOD: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 157 patients aged under 4 months old with UTI. All subjects had paired urinalysis and urine culture, which were collected via transurethral catheterization. According to the results of their urinalysis, the patients were then classified as UTI cases with pyuria and UTI cases without pyuria. The clinical characteristics and outcomes of both groups were analyzed. RESULT: Among the 157 UTI patients, the prevalence of pyuria-negative UTI was 44%. Significant risk factors associated with pyuria-negative UTI included non-E.coli pathogens, younger age, shorter duration of fever prior to hospital visit, lower white blood cell (WBC) count upon hospital visit, and absence of microscopic hematuria. CONCLUSIONS: We found that non-E.coli uropathogens were the strongest factor related to pyuria-negative UTI. The absence of pyuria cannot exclude the diagnosis of UTI in young infants, and it's reasonable to perform both urinalysis and urine culture as a part of the assessment of febrile or ill-looking young infants.

Rapid detection of pigeon adenovirus 2 using a TaqMan real-time PCR assay.

Pigeons infected with aviadenoviruses have been found worldwide. Recently, pigeon adenovirus 2 (PiAdV-2) has been widely distributed in racing pigeons in Germany. However, the epidemiology of this virus remains unclear due to the lack of a specific detection platform for PiAdV-2. In this study, we first detected PiAdV-2 positivity in racing pigeons (designated FJ21125 and FJ21128, which share 100% nucleotide identity with each other based on the fiber 2 gene) in Fujian, Southeast China. These genes shared 99.8% nucleotide identity with PiAdV-2 (GenBank No. NC_031501) but only 54.1% nucleotide identity with PiAdV-1 (GenBank No. NC024474). Then, the TaqMan-qPCR assay for the detection of PiAdV-2 was established based on fiber 2 gene characterization. The established assay had a correlation coefficient of 1.00, with an amplification efficiency of 99.0%. The minimum detection limit was 34.6 copies/µL. Only PiAdV-2 exhibited a positive fluorescent signal, and no signal was detected for other pathogens (including PiCV, FAdV-4, FAdV-8a, EDSV, PPMV-1, RVA and PiHV). The assay has good reproducibility, with a coefficient of variation less than 2.42% both intragroup and intergroup. The distributions of PiAdV-2 in fecal samples from YPDS (35 samples) and healthy (43 samples) racing pigeons from different geographical areas were investigated and were 37.14% (YPDS) and 20.93% (healthy), respectively. In summary, we developed a TaqMan-qPCR platform for the detection of PiAdV-2 infection with high sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility. We confirmed the presence of PiAdV-2 in China, and our data suggested that there is no indication of a correlation between YPDS and PiAdV-2. This study provides more information on the pathogenesis mechanism and epidemiological surveillance of PiAdV-2.

Generation of multi-focus shaping with high uniformity based on an improved Gerchberg-Saxton algorithm.

The Gerchberg-Saxton (GS) algorithm has been extensively employed in computational holography and beam shaping with the advantages of quick iteration speed and high energy utilization. However, the GS algorithm is prone to trapping into local optima and not reaching ideal outcomes, leading to poor shaping quality. In this paper, a method of random disturbance superposition (RDS) was proposed to feedback GS amplitude, which could stably and universally achieve over 95% high uniformity shaping of multiple beams without other complex operations. In light of this, this paper also covered how this technique affected energy utilization. It has been discovered that the introduction of perturbation could decrease the energy utilization. By analyzing the mechanism, a phase value replacement (PVR) method was proposed, which could effectively improve energy utilization without reducing uniformity. Finally, the simulation results were experimentally validated and met expectations very well. This method helps to accurately control the energy distribution of multiple beams and has a driving effect on laser precision processing technology.

Short-term changes in serum miRNA levels and patient-reported clinical outcomes in myasthenia gravis.

INTRODUCTION/AIMS: The circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) miR-150-5p, miR-30e-5p, and miR-21-5p have been suggested as potential biomarkers for myasthenia gravis (MG); however, the relationships between short-term natural changes of the miRNAs and patient-reported MG outcome scores have not been well-studied. We assessed the short-term fluctuations in miRNA levels and patient-reported outcome measures in MG. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 39 MG patients with regular follow-ups and unchanged medications at the Neurology outpatient clinic at Uppsala University Hospital. Patients had weekly follow-up visits for 1 month, at which blood samples were drawn, and scores from MG activities of daily living (MG-ADL), MG quality-of-life-15 (MG-QoL15), and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) were assessed. Serum levels of miRNA miR-150-5p, miR-30e-5p, and miR-21-5p were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR. RESULTS: Intra-individual levels of miR-30e-5p and miR-150-5p were stable, whereas a significant reduction in miR-21-5p was observed from week 1 to week 2 (p = .0024) and from week 2 to week 3 (p < .0001). There were intra-individual differences over a short time in MG-ADL, with higher scores in female patients (p = .0281) and a significant reduction from the first to the second weeks (p = .0281), whereas MG-QoL15 and FSS scores were stable. DISCUSSION: The suggested MG biomarkers miR-30e-5p and miR-150-5p were more stable than miR-21-5p over a short time, indicating their short-term stability as biomarkers. Prospective multi-center studies with longer periods of follow-up and matched controls are needed to validate these miRNAs as biomarkers in MG.

Hypervirulent fowl adenovirus serotype 4 elicits early innate immune response and promotes virus-induced cellular autophagy in the spleen.

The recent emergence of hepatitis-hydropericardium syndrome caused by highly pathogenic fowl adenovirus serotype 4 (FAdV-4) has resulted in significant economic losses to the poultry industry. However, the early innate immune response of immune organs within 24 hpi and the induction of autophagy in vivo after FAdV-4 infection have not been fully elucidated. In this study, 35-day-old specific pathogen-free (SPF) chickens were artificially infected with hypervirulent FAdV-4, which resulted in a mortality rate of up to 90%. The results showed that FAdV-4 infection rapidly triggered the innate immune response in vivo of chickens, with the spleen eliciting a stronger innate immune response than the thymus and bursa. During the early stage of viral infection within 24 hpi, the main receptors TLR3/7/21, MDA5, and cGAS were activated via the NF-κB and TBK1/IRF7-dependent signaling pathways, which up-regulated production of inflammatory cytokines and type I interferons. Additionally, the expression levels of the autophagy-related molecules LC3B, Beclin1, and ATG5 were significantly up-regulated at 24 hpi, while degradation of SQSTM1/p62 was observed, suggesting that FAdV-4 infection elicits a complete autophagy response in the spleen. Besides, the colocalization of Fiber2 and LC3B suggested that FAdV-4 infection induced autophagy which benefits FAdV-4 replication in vivo. This study provides new insights into the immunoregulation signal pathways of the early innate immunity in response to hypervirulent FAdV-4 infection in vivo within 24 hpi and the close relationship between viral replication and autophagy.

Modified enhanced recovery after surgery protocol in octogenarians undergoing minimally invasive colorectal cancer surgery.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major health issue worldwide. As the population ages, more older patients including octogenarians will require CRC treatment. However, this vulnerable group has decreased functional reserves and increased surgical risks. Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) pathways aim to reduce surgical stress and complications, but concerns remain about applying ERAS protocols to older patients. We assessed whether a modified ERAS (mERAS) protocol combined would improve outcomes in octogenarian CRC patients undergoing minimally invasive surgery. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, we compared 360 non-octogenarians aged 50-64 years and 114 octogenarians aged 80-89 years before and after mERAS protocol implementation. Outcomes including postoperative functionary recovery, length of stay, complications, emergency department visits, and readmissions were analyzed. RESULTS: Despite comparable tumor characteristics, octogenarians had poorer nutrition, American Society of Anesthesiologists status, and more comorbidities. After mERAS, octogenarians had reduced complications, faster return of bowel function, and shorter postoperative length of stay, similar to non-octogenarians. mERAS implementation improved recovery in both groups without increasing emergency department visits or readmissions. CONCLUSION: Although less remarkable than in non-octogenarians, mERAS protocols mitigated higher complication rates and improved recovery in octogenarians after minimally invasive surgery for CRC, confirming protocol feasibility and safety in this vulnerable population.

A telomere-related gene risk model for predicting prognosis and treatment response in acute myeloid leukemia.

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a prevalent hematological malignancy among adults. Recent studies suggest that the length of telomeres could significantly affect both the risk of developing AML and the overall survival (OS). Despite the limited focus on the prognostic value of telomere-related genes (TRGs) in AML, our study aims at addressing this gap by compiling a list of TRGs from TelNet, as well as collecting clinical information and TRGs expression data through the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The GSE37642 dataset, sourced from GEO and based on the GPL96 platform, was divided into training and validation sets at a 6:4 ratio. Additionally, the GSE71014 dataset (based on the GPL10558 platform), GSE12417 dataset (based on the GPL96 and GPL570 platforms), and another portion of the GSE37642 dataset (based on the GPL570 platform) were designated as external testing sets. Univariate Cox regression analysis identified 96 TRGs significantly associated with OS. Subsequent Lasso-Cox stepwise regression analysis pinpointed eight TRGs (MCPH1, SLC25A6, STK19, PSAT1, KCTD15, DNMT3B, PSMD5, and TAF2) exhibiting robust predictive potential for patient survival. Both univariate and multivariate survival analyses unveiled TRG risk scores and age as independent prognostic variables. To refine the accuracy of survival prognosis, we developed both a nomogram integrating clinical parameters and a predictive risk score model based on TRGs. In subsequent investigations, associations were emphasized not solely regarding the TRG risk score and immune infiltration patterns but also concerning the response to immune-checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. In summary, the establishment of a telomere-associated genetic risk model offers a valuable tool for prognosticating AML outcomes, thereby facilitating informed treatment decisions.

The Etiology of Rapidly Progressive Dementia: A 3-Year Retrospective Study in a Tertiary Hospital in China.

Background: Rapidly progressive dementia (RPD), characterized by a rapid cognitive decline leading to dementia, comprises a diverse range of disorders. Despite advancements in diagnosis and treatment, research on RPD primarily focuses on Western populations. Objective: This study aims to explore the etiology and demographics of RPD in Chinese patients. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 323 RPD inpatients at Huashan Hospital from May 2019 to March 2023. Data on sociodemographic factors, epidemiology, clinical presentation, and etiology were collected and analyzed. Results: The median onset age of RPD patients was 60.7 years. Two-thirds received a diagnosis within 6 months of symptom onset. Memory impairment was the most common initial symptom, followed by behavioral changes. Neurodegenerative diseases accounted for 47.4% of cases, with central nervous system inflammatory diseases at 30.96%. Autoimmune encephalitis was the leading cause (16.7%), followed by Alzheimer's disease (16.1%), neurosyphilis (11.8%), and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (9.0%). Alzheimer's disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and frontotemporal dementia were the primary neurodegenerative causes, while autoimmune encephalitis, neurosyphilis, and vascular cognitive impairment were the main non-neurodegenerative causes. Conclusions: The etiology of RPD in Chinese patients is complex, with neurodegenerative and non-neurodegenerative diseases equally prevalent. Recognizing treatable conditions like autoimmune encephalitis and neurosyphilis requires careful consideration and differentiation.

Strategies for developing µ opioid receptor agonists with reduced adverse effects.

Opioids are currently the most effective and widely used painkillers in the world. Unfortunately, the clinical use of opioid analgesics is limited by serious adverse effects. Many researchers have been working on designing and optimizing structures in search of novel µ opioid receptor(MOR) agonists with improved analgesic activity and reduced incidence of adverse effects. There are many strategies to develop MOR drugs, mainly focusing on new low efficacy agonists (potentially G protein biased agonists), MOR agonists acting on different Gα subtype, targeting opioid receptors in the periphery, acting on multiple opioid receptor, and targeting allosteric sites of opioid receptors, and others. This review summarizes the design methods, clinical applications, and structure-activity relationships of small-molecule agonists for MOR based on these different design strategies, providing ideas for the development of safer novel opioid ligands with therapeutic potential.

Green and Heavy-Duty Anticorrosion Coatings: Waterborne Epoxy Thermoset Composites Modified through Variation of Zinc Dust Loading and Incorporation of Amine-Capped Aniline Trimer and Graphene Oxide.

In this study, an array of environmentally friendly and heavy-duty anticorrosion composite coatings were prepared. The synthesis involved amine-capped aniline trimer (ACAT) produced by an oxidative coupling reaction and graphene oxide (GO) prepared based on Hummer's method, and later, the waterborne epoxy thermoset composite (WETC) coatings were prepared by thermal ring-opening polymerization of EP 147w, a commercial waterborne epoxy resin, in the presence of ACAT and/or GO with zinc dust (ZD). A synergistic effect was observed by replacing a significant amount of the ZD loading in the WETC by simultaneously incorporating a small amount of ACAT and GO. The electrochemical corrosion measurements of the as-prepared WETC coatings indicated that incorporating 5% w/w ACAT or 0.5% w/w GO separately replaced approximately 30% w/w or 15% w/w of the ZD, respectively. Moreover, the WETC coatings containing 5% w/w ACAT and 0.5% w/w GO simultaneously were found to replace 45% w/w of the ZD. A salt spray test based on ASTM B-117 also showed a consistent trend with the electrochemical results. Incorporating small amounts of ACAT and GO in WETC coatings instead of ZD not only maintains the anticorrosion performance but also enhances adhesion and abrasion resistance, as demonstrated by the adhesion and abrasion tests.